Furniture



Aug. 20, 1929. M 'THUM 1,725,685

FURNITURE Filed June 17, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /ns ATTORN EYS 20, 1929. M, THUM 1,725,685

FURNITURE y Filed' June 1'?, 1 926 5 sheets-sheet 2 BYM: r'm...

/u ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, 1929. M, THUM l,725,685

FURNITURE Filed June 17. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ms ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES MARTIN THUM, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FURNITURE.

Application` filed June 17,

The .present invention relates to furniture and more particularly to the type in which there is provided a bottom member movable to an inner position to provide a seat and to an outer position to provide part of a reclining portion. An object of this invention is to provide a novel extension for the bottom member for occupying the spacebetween the bottom member and the back of the furniture when the bottom member is in its outer position. A further object of the invention is to provide in furniture of the type mentioned, a bottom member extension which is formed of sectionsvfoldably connected and automatically moved to operative position when the bottom member` is moved to its outer posit-ion and to a collapsed position `when the bottom members is moved to its inner position. A still further object of the invention is to provide in furniture of the type described a bottom member eXtension formed of foldable sections and having novel supporting means for the rear section of said extension.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing one of the sides or end frames removed with parts in section, the furniture being illustrated in the position it occupies when it acts as a davenport or seat;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the furniture adjusted in order to gain access to the receptacle beneath the removable bottom frame;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the tracks for the bottom member are supported at their rear ends;

Fig. 4L is a view similar to Fig. 1 with parts in section, showing the bottom member adjusted to its outer position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the bottom member and its eXtension;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the bottom member and its eXtension in plan and the connection of the latter to one side of the frame;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the bottom 1926. Serial No. 116,744.

member extension is supported at its rear end;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View, partially in section, illustrating the track vand the manner in which the rear end of the extension is supported; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical fragmentary section showing the connection of the bottom member and its extension with one side of the box frame.

vIn the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the frame of the furniture embodies a lower box frame comprising two longitudinally extending frame pieces 1 and 2 connected by transverse or side frame pieces 3 at a short distance from the ends of the longitudinally extending pieces 1 and 2. A bottom et closes this frame to provide a receptacle in which any suitable material may be contained. Upholstered sides 5 connectwith this lower box frame and are connected with an upholstered back 6, which has its transverse bottom piece 7 spaced from the rear longitudinally extending member' of the box frame to provide a chamber 8 or recess beneath the upholstered back.`

, The transverse pieces 3, it will be noted, are spaced from the upholstered sides 5 so that chambers 9 are formed at each end of the box frame beyondsa'id side pieces 3. In these chambers are supported tracks for a movable bottom member 17. In this instance, attaching plates 10 are securedl to the ends of the rear pieces 2 beyond the side pieces 3 and attaching platesl 11 are secured to the outer faces of the side pieces 3 adjacent the forward ends thereof, these attaching pieces 11 having offset portions 12 to which the forward ends of the tracks are secured.

The tracks, in this instance, have horizontal 9 rear portions 13, inclined portions 14 leading upwardly Afrom the rear portions and forward horizontal portions 15 in a higher plane than thehorizontal portions 13.

On the tracks, supports 16 on the rear ends of the vmovable bottom member 17 are mounted. Each of these supports, in this instance, carries two rollers 18 and 19 arranged respectively aboveand below a track, the upper roller travelling on the upper surytace of the. track and the lower roller being arranged to cooperate with the lower portion of the track to hold the support 16 to the track. In addition to the support 16, the movable bottom member 17 has al pair of swinging supports 20, these supports being pivotallyV connected at 21 to the bottom member on the underside thereof about the middle of the latter and having their middle ends pivoted at 22 to the brackets 12. Coil springs 23 are connected at 24 to the bottom member 17 preferably at the rear end of the latter and, in thisl instance, through the supports 16. The forward end of each of these springs is connected at 25 to the swinging member 23 between the pivots 21 and 22 of the latter and, in this instance7 nearer to the pivot 21. lVhen the bottom member is in its outer position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, these springs are untensioned, but, as the bottom member moves inwardly, the point 25 moves relatively to the point 24 and places each spring under tension so that, when the bottom member` is in itsinner position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the springs are tensioned in such a manner as to assist in the movement of the bottom member to its outer position. When the bottom member moves outwardly, the rollers 18 on the support 16 are compelled to travel up the trackway 14 and the outer edge of the bottom ymember is caused to swing upwardly through the links 20. As a consequence, the weight ot' the bottom member acts against the spring 17 as the supports 16 move upwardly on the inclined portions 14 of the trackway, so that, eventually, the weight ot the bot-tom member will equal the pulling action of the springs 23 and the bottom member will come to a neutral position shown in Fig. `2 where the interior of the receptacle beneath the bottom member will be exposed for access without -tear of the bottom member moving in either direction. The front edge of the bottom member may be supported in any suitable manner as by supports 26 which may be connected to the bottom member in any suitable manner. The 'foregoing parts are not claimed per se herein as they are Vfully described and claimed in one or more ot the following applications tiled by me: Serial. No. 753,743, tiled December third, '1924; Serial No. 10,697, tiled February twentieth, 1925; Serial No. 65,464, tiled October twenty-eighth, 1925.

The feature ot this invention is the novel construction ot' an extension Yfor the bottom member for occupying the space between the rear edge ot the bottom member and the back when the bottom member is in its outer position. This extension, in this instance, embodies two sections pivotally connected vone to the other, one of the sections being pivotally connected to the bottom member. This last mentioned section embodies side pieces 27 pivotally connected at 23 to the rear cross piece 29 of the bottom member and connected by a longitudinal extending strap spring 30. This strap spring has transverse strap springs 31 secured thereto and pivotally connected at one side to a rod 31EL secured to the transverse strap springs 32 ot the bottom member 17 but having its ends tree of the side pieces 27 and the cross piece 29. The. other section of the extension embodies a longitudinal piece 33 and side pieces 34 forming a substantially U shaped member. The side pieces are pivoted at 35 to the side members 27 o1 the lirst mentioned section and the transverse strap springs 36 of this last mentioned section are pivotally connected to a rod 37 which also extends through loops termed at the rear ends ot the strap springs 31 of the tirst mentioned extension section, the rod 37 having its ends free from the sidepieces 34 and the side members 27 so that the sections may fold without producing any bending or distortion ot' the rod 37.

With the end in view of supporting the rear section of the extension so that it may move rearwardly and downwardly, two links 38 are preferably provided, these links being pivoted at 39 to the rear section of the eX- tension at their upper ends and having their lower end pivoted at 40 to the plates 41 secured to the inner faces ot the transverse piece 3 of the box frame. Also supporting the rear end of the rear section of the extension are two supports 42 each also pivoted at 39 to the rear section and being provided with shoulders or abutments 43, see Figs. 5 and 7, adapted to cooperate with lateral projections 44 on side members 34 of the U shaped frame of the rear extension section, The lower ends 45 of these members are adapted to rest on abutments 46 formed by cutting lugs from the plate 41 before mentioned', so that when the rear extension is in operative position, thestrain is taken otl the links 38 and imposed between the shoulders 43 on the supports 42 and the lower ends 45 of' said support. For the pur pose of guiding each support 42 toward and Yfrom an abutment 46, the support 42 has a curved surface 47 which travels on a pin 48 projecting from the plate 41. lVhen the bottom member 17 moves inwardly, the links 32 swing rearwardly and downwardly While the supports 42 travel rearwardly -on the pins or abutments 43. rlhis causes the rear end of the rear part of the extension to swing downwardly and the forward edge to swing upwardly whereby both sections of the extension move into-substantially paralllel relation to vert-ical vpositions in the chamber beneath the upholstered back 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A flexible cover 49 is secured at 50 to the forward edge of the front me: ber 17, extends rearwardly over the front member and over the extension, its rear free edge Vbeing secured at 51 tothe upper surface `ot the bottom piece 7 of the upholstered back. Two upholstered cushions 52 and 53 may be provided, and a quilt 54 is secured to the nppersurface of the cushion or member 52 and is of a width to cover the cushion or upholstered member 53, the quilt extending beyond the rear edge of the cushion 52 a sufficient distance to permit this coverage.

This quilt is folded in the manner illustrated in Fig. l, when t-he cushion or seat is used as a davenport and, when the furniture is used as a couch or bed, the quilt covers the upholstered member 53 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The covering 49 hereinbefore mentioned not only protects the undersurface of the upholstered cushions or members 52 and 53 from the action of the strap springs of the bottom member and its extension, but it serves to prevent dust or other particles passing downwardly into the receptacle below the bottom member when the latter is in open position.

The operation of the invention will be understood from the foregoing but it may be summarized as follows: Then the furniture is to be used as a seat or davenport, the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. l. lf access is desired to the compartment or receptacle below the bottom member, the bottom member is pulled forwardly, being assisted in this action by the spring 23, the upholstered member 53 first being swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines as shown in Fig. 1. Eventually a neutral position is reached as shown in Fig. 2, where the action of the springs 23 on the bottom member is equal to t-he friction onthe traclway and the weight of the bottom member and the parts carried thereby, so that the interior of the receptacle is open for access. f it is desired to provide a bed or couch, t-he bottom member is moved forwardly to the position shown in Fig. l. During this time the two extension sections move to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 4, after which the cushion 53 is placed thereon and the eXtension of the quilt 53 is thrown over said cushion, so that the parts appear as shown in Fig. 4. In moving the parts from the positions shown in Fig. 4 to the positions shown in Fig. l, the quilt extension is first thrown over the kcushion 52 and then the cushion 53 is placed upon the cushion 52. The forward edge of the bottom member l is then lifted and pushed rearwardly and travels down the trackway tothe rearward horizontal portion 13. The bottom member extension during this time folds from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 4 to the vertical position shown in Fig. l.

As the rear section of the extension is supported by swinginglinks pivoted at both ends and also by the supports 42 which are adapted to slide on the vabutments 46, it is possible for t-he bottom 'member to swing or move forwardly in order that the support 26 may engage the floor. This is important when the flooring is uneven for should the furniture frame rest on a higher surface than that to be engaged by the supports 26, and the rear end of the extension be held against forward movement, then the support 26 would not engage the door. ln this invent-ion, the supporting means for the rear extension section can move back and forth on the abutment 46.

What I claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a receptacle arranged at the bottom of said frame, an upholstered back supported in fixed relation on the frame, the frame being provided with a chamber below the back, a bottom member having a length at least as long as the receptacle in the frame, and means for supporting the bottom member to permit the same to be .moved from an inner position where it acts as a seat, and a cover for the receptacle, to an outer position where it acts as a part of the bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected together, one of the sections being hingedly connected to the bottom member near the rear edge of the latter and the rear section being of less length than the bottom member so that the bottom member projects at each end beyond the ends of the rear section, and means causing the rear edge of the rear section to move rearwardly and downwardly into the receptacle and the pivotal connection between the sections to move upwardly in rear of the forward edge of the fixed back as the bottom member is moved to its inner position.

2. In furniture, the combination with a frame, an' upholstered bach supported by the frame, the frame having a chamber beneath said back, a bottom member, and means for supporting said bottom member for movement from an inner position where the bottom member acts as a seat toan outer position where the bottom member acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member to complete the bed bottom when the bottom member is in its outer `position, said extension embodying two hingedly connected sections, one of said sections bemg hingedly kconnected to the rear part of the bottom member, and a combined guiding and supporting means for guiding the rear edge of the rear section causing the latter to move rearwardly and downwardly as the bottom member is moved to its inner position so that the hinged connection between the sections may move upwardly and beneath the upholstered back, and causing also the rear section to move upwardly and forwardly as the bottom member is moved to its outer position, said combined guiding and supporting means having a connection with the rear section of the extension permitting the rear section to swing forwardly or backwardly independent of the guiding and supporting means, when the latter is at its innermost position in order that the hinged connection between the two sections may swing into or o'ut of the chamber under the back.

3. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bottom member for move- 'inent to an inner position where it acts as a seat to an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected one to the other and the inner one being hinged to the bottom member, a support pivotally connected to 'the rear section near the rear edge of the latter, means for limiting the moving of said support in one direction, two abutments near the rear end of the support, one of the said abutments being curved, a device carried by the frame over which the cui'ved abutment of the support travels as the bottom member moves from an inner to an outer position, and an abutment on the frame with which the other abutment on the support engages when the bottom member is in its outer position.

It. In furniture the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bottom member for movementw to an inner position where it acts as a seat to an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected one to the other and the inner one being hinged to the bottom member, a support for the outer edge of the bottom member for engaging the surface on which the furniture rests, a combined guiding and supporting means for guiding the rear edge of the rear section, causing the latter to move rearwardly and. downwardly as the bottom member is moved to its inner position, so that the hinged connection between the sections may move upwardly, and causing the rear section to move upwardly and forwardly as the bottom member is moved to its outer position, and an abutment with which said combined guiding and supporting means has a sliding connection when the bottom member is moved outwardly'to permit the support at the outerY edge of the bottom member to adapt itself to the surface on which the furniture rests.

5. In furniture the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bot-tom member for movement to an inner position where it acts as a seat to an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected one to the other and the inner one being hinged. to the bottom member, a link pivotally connected to the rear section near the rear edge and also pivotally connected to the frame and causing the rear edge of the rear extension to move rearwardly and downwardly as the bottom member is moved to its inner position, an abutment on the frame, and means carried by said extension for engaging said abutment to support the extension when the bottom member is moved to its outer position.

6. In furniture the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting` the bottom member for movement to an inner position where it acts as a seat to an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected one to the other and the inner one being hinged to the bottom member, a link pivotally connected to the rear section nea-i' the rear edge of the latter and also pivotally connected to the frame, a support mounted to turn on the axis of turning of the link, means limiting the movement in one diiection of the support on its pivot, said support having a curved surface and an abutment, means on the frame with which said curved surface engages as the support swings, and an abutment on the frame with which the abutment on the support may engage.

7. In furniture the combination with a fra-me, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bottom member for movementl to an inner position where it acts as a seat to an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections hingedly connected one to the other and the inner one being hinged to the bottom member, a link pivotally connected to the rear section near the rear edge of the latter and also pivotally connected to the frame below the extension, an abutment on the frame, and means carried by the frame for loosely engaging the abutment when the bottom member is in its outer position in order to support the rear extension, said means having a lost motion connection with t-he rear section, so that the latter may swing relatively thereto while the bottom member is being moved to and from its inner position.

8. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a bottom member and means for supporting the bottom member so that the latter may move to an inner position and also to an outer position, of an extension for the bottom member comprising two sections pivotally connected, one of said sections being pivotally connected to the bottom member, and two links pivoted to the frame below the extension when the latter is in inoperative position and pivotally connected to the rear section of the extension near the rear of the latter so that the rear edge of the rear extension may move rearwardly and downwardly, and two supports for the extension each secured at its upper end to the rear section of the extension and each provided with a curved surface, and means provided on the frame for engaging with said curved surfaces as the rear edge of the rear section of the extension moves to and from operative position and abutments on the frame with which said supports engage when the bottom member is moved to its outer position.

9. In furniture, the combination with a frame provided with a back fixed relatively to the frame, a bottom member, means for supporting said bottom member to permit it to move to an inner lower position and an outer higher position, of an extension for occupying the space between the bottom member and the back when the bottom member is in its outer position, said extension comprising two members pivoted one to the other, one of said members being pivoted to the rear edge of the bottom member, means for supporting the rear edge of the exten" sion so that said rear edge may move rearwardly and downwardly to cause both sections of the extension to occupy vertical positi ons in the chamber beneath the back when the bottom member is moved to its inner or lower position, and a flexible cover secured to said bottom member extending loosely over the extension and having its rear edge secured at the rear portion of said chamber in a position so that the two members of the extension may fold into the chamber beneath the back without interfering with the secured rear edge of the cover.

10. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bottom member for movement on the frame from an inner position to an outer position and vice versa, of an extension member embodying two sections pivotally connected one to the other, one of said sections being pivotally connected to the bottom member, two supports secured to the rear section near the rear edge of the latter, each of said supports for the extension having a curved surface, means on the frame for engaging with said curved surface during the movement of the curved supports, and means for guiding the rear edge of the rear vsection of the extension so that the latter moves rearwardly and downwardly when the bottom member is moved to its inner position.

l1. In furniture, the combination with a frame, a bottom member, and means for supporting the bottom member for movement on the frame from an inner position to an outer position and vice versa, of an extension member embodying two sections pivotally connected one to the other, one of said sections being pivotally connected to the bottom member, two supports for the rear section secured to the rear section near the rear edge of the latter each of said supports having a curved surface, means on the frame for engaging with said curved surface during the movement of the curved supports, means for guiding the rear edge of the rear section of the extension so that the latter moves rearwardly and downwardly when the bottom member is moved to its inner position, and abutments on the -frame for engagement by said supports when the bottom member is moved to its outer position.

l2. In furniture, the combination with a frame having a fixed bacl and a chamber below the back, a bottom member having an inner position where it acts as a seat and an outer position where it acts as part of a bed bottom, and means for supporting the bed bottom for movement from its inner to its outer position or vice versa, of an extension for the bottom member, when the latter is in its outer position embodying two hingedly connected sections, one of which is narrower than the other and is hinged to the bottom member near the rear edge of the latter and has a width at greatest substantially equal to the distance between the upper surface of the bottom member and the forward lower edge of the chamber below the fixed back when said bottom member is in its inner position, a link pivoted to the rear section near the rear edge of the latter and to the frame below the bottom member and causing the rear edge of the rear section to move in rear of and below the position it occupies when the bottom member is in its outer position, so that the hinged connection between the sections may move upwardly into the chamber beneath the fixed back when the bottom member is moved to its inner position, and means for supporting the rear section in its horizontal position to prevent its swinging on the link as a pivot when the bottom member is in its outer position.

13. In furniture, the combination with a frame, and a bottom member movable on the frame from an inner to an outer position and vice versa, of an extension for the bottom member embodying two sections each having side pieces pivoted to the side pieces of the other, the side pieces of one section being pivoted to the bottom member and both of said sections having transverse strap springs, and a pivot rod to which the transverse strap springs of both sections are pivoted, said rod having its ends free of the side pieces of the sections.

MARTIN THUM. 

